One-word answers are always a bit jarring; the same goes for one-word text answers.
One word in particular is being called out for coming across as rude and dismissive.
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"Sure."
New York City comedian Isabel Steckel recently called out her brother for this dismissive word and posted the chat on "X."
The post soon received over 11 thousand likes, and people agreed that "Sure" is the worst one-word answer.
In the text, Steckel asked her brother if he wanted to hang out.
After replying, "Sure," she called him out, saying, "If you're bringing a 'sure' attitude, then let's not do it."
— Isabel Steckel (@IsabelSteckel) May 21, 2024
Her brother thought she was joking, but she wasn't.
In an interview with the Huff Post, Steckel explained how she interpreted his response.
"Asking someone to hang out for me is a very vulnerable move. So when I'm getting that 'sure,' I'm like, 'Alright, f–k it. I'm not doing it.'
She added that the word's meaning depends on the context, so replying "sure" to an errand or task is fine, but it sounds bad when inviting someone to spend time with you.
While some see nothing wrong with an easy "Sure." Others think it comes across as sarcastic.
Using punctuation like an exclamation mark or a better word like "absolutely." will help to lighten the mood around a one-word answer.
Georgetown University sociolinguist Cynthia Gordon told the Huff Post, the different meanings of "sure" might also be generational.
"The younger generation expects more enthusiasm in texting in general than older folks do," noting women tend to expect more of those explicit markers of enthusiasm."
Feature image from Pexels by Alex Green
